The Pearl 360 is the next stage i-Size baby and toddler car seat in the new 360 Family from Maxi-Cosi. The FlexiSpin technology in the compatible FamilyFix 360 Base, means that this 360 rotating car seat can easily be rotated from any reclined position. Featuring an easy-in harness, and unique ClimaFlow and G-Cell technologies this car seat provides total comfort and safety. What's more, the Pearl 360 is made to evolve with families, as it provides extended rearward-facing travel up to 4 years old.
Scroll down to find out how our tester got on when reviewing the Maxi-Cosi Pearl 360 with FamilyFix 360 Base.
www.maxi-cosi.co.uk
Pros
- Ease of use – The 360 rotation is very user friendly and reduced strain on our backs
- Safe and secure - An easy in-harness system ensures your child can be quickly in their seat
- Comfort- The multiple reclining positions allows for a content position, even on long journeys
- Long term use – Suitable from 3 months to approximately 4 years (61-105cm, up to 18kg)
- Easy installation - Clicks into the FamilyFix 360 base with visual indicators to reduce risk of misuse
Cons
- The newborn inlay is sold separately, which is necessary if using the seat from birth.
- Seat size is a little challenging in smaller vehicles and is a rather large and somewhat bulky seat
- Limited positioning options when in a small car.
| Suitable for: | 3M-4Y, 61-105cm, 0-17.4 kg |
| Seat weight: | 7.45kg |
| Dimensions: | H 49.8cm x W43cm x D 67.4cm |
| Resting/reclining positions: | 5 |
| Harness positions: | 9 |
| Colour options: | Green, Graphite, or Black |
| Removable cover?: | Yes |
| Safety standards: | i-Size (R129/03) compliant |
- High safety standards
- ISOFIX base
- 360 rotation using just one hand
- Comfort for the child with ClimaFlow temperature control
- Easy installation and use
- Stylish and durable design
- Easy to clean fabrics and made from 100% recycled materials
- Available in a range of colours to match your car’s interior
Testing the Maxi-Cosi Pearl 360 with FamilyFix 360 Base
When it comes to searching for a car seat for our daughter, as parents, we do all we can to ensure we choose the safest product. We were looking for the next step up in car seat as our daughter (one year old) had almost outgrown her current seat. The Maxi Cosi Pearl 360 ticks all the boxes for us.
We tested the car seat with our daughter to see how safe, comfortable and easy to use it was, especially as we have a smaller car. It is designed for children from approximately 3 months to 4 years old (61-105 cm).
When paired with the FamilyFix 360 base (sold separately), the seat can be smoothly rotated using one hand, facilitating easy access when placing or removing your child from the car, an absolute essential for us.
The Maxi Cosi Pearl 360 complies with the latest iSize (R129/03) safety regulations and features integrated G-CELL side impact protection, reducing the risk of injury in side collisions. The seat is equipped with Climaflow ventilation panels and breathable fabrics to regulate temperature. It also offers multiple recline positions and an adjustable headrest to accommodate your growing child. The easy-in harness system keeps straps open for a hassle-free child placement. There are visual indicators on the base to ensure correct installation.
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Build
The visual indicators for easy installation are very user-friendly and easy to follow, ensuring quick and straightforward installation. Along with the easy-in harness and 360-degree rotation, the car seat is extremely easy and efficient to use.
The car seat is very simple to set up and clicks easily into the FamilyFix 360 base without struggle. The harness is easy to adjust, finding the appropriate fit to secure your child.
Unfortunately, the car seat is rather large and bulky, meaning it takes up a lot of space within our smaller vehicle. However, I found this reassuring from a safety point of view, as the build feels very robust and well put together.
Usability
The car seat is secured into the vehicle using an ISOFIX base. This is a formality on all modern vehicles for optimum safety. The base inserts easily into the car, using pop-out rods which attach to the ISOFIX point in the seat of the vehicle.
The 360 rotation feature means that adjusting the seat's position to get your child in and out of the car is very seamless. The five recline positions are also easy to adjust by simply locating the recline handle situated at the front of the car seat's base. You then squeeze the handle to unlock the seat's position, allowing you to adjust the seat angle by pushing on the top of the seat to achieve the desired recline. The material of the car seat is wipe clean friendly, and it can also be cleaned in the washing machine, should this be required for extra-large messes, although this is a bit of an ordeal to remove all aspects and put them back in!
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Performance
I felt that my child was very safe in this car seat. It feels robust and very well made, giving extra peace of mind. The car seat is great for long journeys, we tested this when visiting family down south (2.5hours away). Margot would usually become restless, but remained happy for the entirety of the journey. I was able to recline the seat from a more upright position, where she was happy looking out of the window, to a further reclined position where she was able to nap peacefully during the journey.
I like that this seat will be suitable for Margot for a long time, as she is only one year old, we will get plenty of use from it.
Due to the bulky and heavy nature of the car seat, if you require moving it between cars frequently, this may be challenging. However, this would be worth the compromise due to its excellent features. If you are somebody with a smaller car, like us, this would also need to be a consideration, as you are left with very little leg room for a passenger travelling in the front seat due to how far forward the seat needs to be in order to accommodate the car seat in a rear-facing position. However, this is not as much of an issue if your child is able to travel front-facing.
Final verdict
We are thrilled that we were able to test the Maxi-Cosi Pearl 360 car seat. It has been the perfect step-up seat for my one-year-old daughter. The seat gives me the reassurance that she is as safe as possible within the car when travelling, which is great, especially for longer journeys. We love the usability and easy access the 360 rotational base provides, allowing us to quickly access Margot, moving her in and out of the car. The 5 reclining positions available on the seat are also fantastic for growing little ones who are becoming more inquisitive and like to see what’s going on outside the window!
The large and bulky nature of the seat meant that it was not overly practical for use in our smaller car if travelling with a passenger in the front. If it was possible to change this without compromising any of the safety features, we feel it would make the product more user-friendly, as not everybody has access to a large car.
Although the seat and base combined are a rather expensive purchase, we feel this would be well worth the money due to the excellent safety and comfort features this seat provides. While there may be cheaper alternatives on the market, we feel you aren’t able to put a price on safety and would certainly recommend this seat to our friends with children.
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About the author
Lorna White is the Products Editor for Mother&Baby. After running the Yours magazine website, specialising in content about caring for kids and grandchildren, Lorna brought her expertise to Mother&Baby in 2020. She has a keen interest in a range of topics surrounding all things motherhood and has a wide range of experienced medical experts and professionals at her fingertips.